Free Web NovelChapter 1857: Chapter 1857: The Only Chance
Sikong Yu appeared slightly awkward, because the Sikong family also achieved their current power and status through the Vermilion Bird Bloodline.
Was it wrong?
Yes and no.
It was wrong because everyone knows that the path of bloodline is not the righteous path, but knowing is one thing, cultivating is another.
The path of cultivation is too arduous, and the resources needed are vast. From Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment and then to Golden Core, every step not only requires talent but also resources.
However, the family structure in Ancestor Dragon City was established very early, the hierarchy solidified, and the more top-tier families possessed more wealth and resources. Naturally, the strong remain strong.
As for those at the bottom, even if they are quite talented, they cannot overcome the bottlenecks of cultivation due to the lack of resources and opportunities.
Even if they eventually breakthrough, they would end up as slaves or pawns under the top-tier families, otherwise, they wouldn’t even know how they died.
That is why the path of bloodline emerged.
Through refining the bloodline of the Demon Clan and using it for oneself, one could quickly gain some of the talent of the Demon Clan. The Demon Clan bloodline is naturally more harmonious with the power of nature, making cultivation faster and requiring fewer resources compared to humans.
Thus, this path quickly became widespread.
Moreover, with the continual wars and conflicts between Ancestor Dragon City and the Demon Clan, obtaining the essence blood of the Demon Clan became exceedingly easy. Previously, these were wasted and unwanted, so they could not be overly expensive.
Even the poor could use this method of bloodline refinement to gain strength several times their own, who could resist such temptation?
Thus, as soon as the method of bloodline refinement appeared, it rapidly spread throughout Ancestor Dragon City, and the Sikong family wasn’t immediately involved.
At that time, the Sikong family was not the current Vermilion Bird Family, only a third-rate family. It was due to a talented individual in the family who, by chance, ventured into the Molten Lava Land, encountered the Vermilion Bird, and gained great fortune.
From that point, the Sikong family embarked on an extraordinary journey. Within just a sixty-year cycle, through the efforts of three generations, they rose to prominence and, during a subsequent great war with the Demon Clan, fully emerged, entering the most glorious era of the Sikong family.
For hundreds of years afterward, the path of bloodline flourished. Nearly seventy percent of people in Ancestor Dragon City had cultivated this path. Even if it was not their primary focus, they would practice it; in those times, having prestigious bloodline was almost a requirement for a cultivator.
One could say the Demon Clan played a grand game, using several centuries to make their move. Finally, two hundred years ago, they almost directly destroyed Ancestor Dragon and wiped out humanity.
Fortunately, in times of chaos, talent often emerges. At the brink of life and death, Ancestor Dragon’s side produced a series of outstanding talents, forcibly turning the tide.
But that battle was also the most brutal in all previous great wars with the Demon Clan.
Now looking back, the path of bloodline was wrong, but back then, it was mainstream. Who would have known it concealed such a sinister plot?
No one expected it until the critical moment when the truth was revealed.
"Shall we go down?"
Sikong Yu shook her head slightly, powerless to judge past events. Compared to bygone matters, she cared more about the present.
She didn’t know if Li Feng could escape unscathed or if Ouyang Qiuhai was alright. Nor did she understand why Bi Fang wanted to capture her. Was it truly due to her Vermilion Bird Bloodline or due to past sentiments?
"Of course, we go down. Aren’t you here to find the Vermilion Bird? Why hesitate now?"
Bi Fang turned her head to glance at Sikong Yu.
"Of course, if you wish to turn back, be my guest. After all, I’ve done all I can as a lord. If you insist on courting death, that’s beyond my control."
Having said this, Bi Fang took a step and walked directly towards the cave entrance, seemingly unconcerned about whether Sikong Yu would follow.
Sikong Yu watched Bi Fang walking ahead, then turned to look behind her...
Bi Fang walked leisurely ahead, filled with confidence inside. This young girl couldn’t possibly retreat now.
Those people couldn’t possibly survive the Ant Race’s army. Although she despised the Ant Queen, calling her a little woman, the opposite party’s Ant Race army was genuinely formidable.
Even though she restrained the opponent, facing hundreds of millions from the Ant Race army would make her scalp tingle.
Besides, this was the Molten Lava Land; she doubted that killing off the opponent could outpace the opponent’s new army’s hatching speed.
"Senior Bi Fang, I still can’t let go. I have to look for them."
Clenching her lips, Sikong Yu, although aware that following Bi Fang might greatly increase her chances of finding the Vermilion Bird, couldn’t, in good conscience, disregard the life and death of Li Feng and others.
Saying this, Sikong Yu directly turned around and walked towards the cave’s exit.
Bi Fang paused for a moment, sensing Sikong Yu’s departure. She then flicked her spear, stepping onto its shaft.
The Controlling Technique, in Ancestor Dragon City, wasn’t considered a high-level cultivation technique, not solely unique to the Sword Control Pavilion.
Many people actually practiced it because it was convenient for travel, even though it consumed a lot. Unless one specifically cultivated Divine Sense for controlling it, short-distance flight could be managed, but long-duration maintenance was impossible.
Despite being only in the Golden Core Middle Stage, Sikong Yu could manage flying with objects, though her speed couldn’t match those cultivators from the Sword Control Pavilion who specialized in the Sword Control Technique.
Bi Fang glanced back at the departing Sikong Yu: "She does have some sense of loyalty."
Bi Fang didn’t pursue or capture Sikong Yu back forcibly. It was good if Sikong Yu followed, but it was also fine if she didn’t. Her purpose for being here was merely to see if the Vermilion Bird had been reborn.
If the Vermilion Bird chose to be reborn from fire, predicting when it would be revived would be difficult, perhaps the next moment, or perhaps in the next century.
If the Vermilion Bird truly opted for rebirth from fire, Bi Fang wouldn’t wait idly here. Over two hundred years have passed; the wounds to be licked have already healed, and the next great war seems to be brewing.
This upcoming battle should be a continuation of the previous one. Two hundred years is neither too long nor too short. This time, although enough for the Ancestor Dragon City’s side to recover significantly, that generation of Ancestor Dragon City’s elite should have dwindled considerably.
Humans have many admirable qualities, but their lifespan is too brief. Even at the Golden Core Stage, two hundred years is the limit, and those slightly stronger can barely live to three hundred years, unless they can break through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul.
But in this world, the number of formidable beings it can support seems limited, and breaking through is as difficult as ascending to heaven, unless a Nascent Soul-stage expert dies.
This time, however, Bi Fang will not choose a faction. Wait and see.
Bi Fang turned around, continuing to stride towards the Molten Lava Cave.
Sikong Yu turned around and rushed down from the Molten Lava Volcano, heading back in the direction she came. Since she was alone, her speed was even faster than before.
Half a day passed.
Suddenly, Sikong Yu saw a number of Flying King Ants hovering in the air ahead, seemingly engaged in battle. Seeing this, Sikong Yu didn’t hesitate to activate her bloodline, the Vermilion Bird Wings unfolded behind her, directly flapping them, and her speed instantly increased.
"Hold on."
Ouyang Qiuhai was already exhausted at this moment, having used most of her life-saving treasures. Although what pursued them was merely a group of several Flying King Ants,
in the team, apart from Lei Ba, who was in the Golden Core stage and could take out these Flying King Ants, the others were "burdens," unable to effectively harm the Flying King Ants.
Moreover, the Flying King Ants were very cunning, refusing to engage in close combat on the ground, but hovering in the air and spraying ant acid from a high vantage point, constantly tangling with them.
This made them very passive, and even the trusted aides couldn’t explode to kill the enemies, feeling extremely stifled.
Lei Ba looked angrily at the ant swarms in the sky: "If this continues, we’ll all be worn out to death, in a flat area without anywhere to hide."
Lan looked dumbfounded at the Flying King Ants in the sky: "These Flying King Ants clearly have a commander. If we could take out the commanding Flying King Ant, we might have a chance amidst the chaos."
"Yeah, we all know what you’re saying, but these Flying King Ants look the same, how do we find it, and if we find it, how do you plan to take it out?"
"As long as you can find it, you can take it out. Shadow is light, you can toss it out, but this kind of method can only be used once, if it fails, it’s hard to succeed again."
Lan said.
"Lan, have you found the commanding Flying King Ant?"
"I need some assistance, but it might cost lives."
"What time is it now, hurry up and tell us."
Lei Ba urged impatiently.
"Split up, run in four directions, the ant swarm will definitely disperse to chase, and the commanding Flying King Ant most likely won’t pursue openly. By then, most can be identified, and there might be a chance to find that commanding Flying King Ant."
Lan explained slowly.
"However, once separated, leaving Ouyang’s protective array, you should know the consequence."
"Even if we succeed, I cannot guarantee how many losses we will suffer in the end."
Lan said.
"Three colonels, let’s do it, we’ll attract these Flying King Ants’ attention and win you a chance."
"Yes, it’s better to fight than sit here waiting to die."
The other trusted aides echoed.
Ouyang Qiuhai glanced at Li Feng’s trusted aides behind her: "Decide for yourselves. If you decide, I will cooperate."
Ouyang Qiuhai also knew this was the only way to break the situation.
"Let’s act, split into four groups. Shadow, go with Lei Ba, be ready to take action anytime. I’ll take a team, Ouyang will lead a team, and the remaining members form another team."
Lan had everyone choose teams, and soon the teams were divided: "On the count of three, run headlong in your direction and find a way to survive."
Lan knew this was somewhat redundant, their survival was all thanks to Ouyang Qiuhai’s life-saving treasures.
Those following Ouyang Qiuhai had some guarantee, but the other three directions might suffer heavy losses.
"One, two, three."
At the count of three, more than forty people split into four paths and frantically fled in four directions.
The Flying King Ant Commander in the sky watched this scene, its antennae continuously sending signals, and in an instant, thousands of Flying King Ants split into several waves to chase relentlessly.
"Can you see it, the one in the middle."
Lan shouted loudly.
"I see it."
Lei Ba watched the scattered Flying King Ants, hundreds of stationary Flying King Ants immediately emerged, and these Flying King Ants were clearly guarding the leader, which was the Flying King Ant Commander.
The ant race’s hierarchical exposure revealed the opponent’s position.
Shadow leapt directly onto Lei Ba’s fan-like hands, his light body seeming weightless, Lei Ba twisted his waist, let out a low roar, treading the ground with his feet, directly shattered the volcanic rock beneath.
Then, his burly arm swung, directly launching Shadow like a cannonball.
